Officers from Scotland Yard's special branch spoke to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and reassured him that steps were being taken to ensure his safety. He was also put on the police's "at risk" register.

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At the time of the plot in early 2004, Saif Gaddafi was living in London. Britain and the US were at pains to ensure that nothing upset Libya's return into the international community.

At the time Saif was studying at the London School of Economics. In many ways, he was seen by the West as the man who could bring Libya in line with the rest of the world. New York Magazine has a very good profile of him, which details disagreements with his father and his desire for a more democratic Libya.